FAQs

Wired vs. Wireless Systems

Should I purchase a wired or wireless system?

In general, wireless systems are preferred because they’re simply easier to install and don’t require running wires all over your house. Wireless installation can be DIY, whereas a wired system often requires professional installation in order to drill holes in walls (in order to run wires). Wireless systems are also more portable should relocation be needed in the future.

How does a wireless system work?

Wireless systems use the Internet, allowing users to connect their new security system utilizing a wireless router that treats each camera as a device. Most homes already have a wireless router that people use to connect their computers, laptops, smartphones and other smart devices such as smartTVs and thermostats to the internet. Now, one can use the existing router to also install a wireless security system.

Another major benefit of wireless systems is that they enable live audio/video streaming and/or continuous recording at specific times, on demand, or when activated by an event or happening. Videos can be kept at a distant location or locally.

Since the cameras are wireless, how do they stay charged?

Wireless cameras are battery operated and battery life is continuously improving. Many cameras won’t need to be recharged for up to a year, but you will eventually have to re-charge them. Based on the camera location and the traffic in the area, each camera will need to be recharged at different times. As expected, high traffic areas use more battery power as the camera turns on more often. Batteries last a couple of years; eventually you will need to change your batteries.

At Deep Sentinel, we’ve designed an energy-efficient device with a battery life of 34 watt-hour (Wh), so that our power budget is low and our battery can last a long time.

Camera Features

How far can most cameras see?

How far a camera sees depends primarily on the camera’s angle of view (AoV), resolution and what you want to see. There’s simply not a one-size-fits-all camera. Many low-end cameras work great up to distances of 10 to 20 feet, but fail miserably at distances beyond 30 to 40 feet. By contrast, most high-end cameras are able to accurately capture people at 75 to 100 feet, often in HD or near HD. Video clarity will cost you, but when you’re showing your video or pictures to law enforcement, the clearer the better. (Source: CSO Online) At Deep Sentinel, we’ve built our camera to have a better than average specification for detection and night vision. It captures the farthest and widest range of vision possible in order to meet the goals of a perimeter detection device.

Do I need to get a camera with HD resolution?

A camera with HD resolution will provide a clearer, crisper image. Think about the difference between standard and high definition on your TV. An HD-equipped IP (Internet Protocol) camera will capture superior quality recordings at resolutions of 1080p (1080 horizontal lines of vertical resolution) and higher. While many security cameras with 760p resolution are on the market, it’s highly recommended to get a 1080p camera. Note that if other components of your system lack HD capabilities, your recordings will be of a much lower resolution by the time the systems stores or presents it.

Does facial recognition on newer cameras work well?

Many smart doorbells popular with consumers have tried to bring face recognition to the market, but CNET testing has found that face recognition isn’t that accurate yet. Person recognition—where a camera can tell the simple difference between a person and a dog or a car—has proven a bit easier, and certain cameras can also be trained to recognize individual residents. Face recognition on smartphones is a much simpler problem to solve, as the face is much closer to the camera and can therefore capture nuances.

How do outdoor security cameras provide night vision?

Night vision on outdoor security cameras is provided by passive infrared (PIR) sensors which measure infrared light radiating from objects in its field of view (Source: Wikipedia). On an outdoor security camera, infrared LED bulbs are located concentrically around the camera lens to detect this infrared radiation (in the form of heat transfer). The number of infrared LEDs used in a camera help determine its range for night vision.

How important is night vision in outdoor security cameras?

Night vision is highly desirable, as many crimes happen at night. Intruders may believe they have an advantage under cover of night, so our need to “see in the dark” and feel secure is enhanced by cameras that have the ability to capture images and video in shadows, shady areas and in darkest nights.

What does IP66 mean, and is this something I should consider?

International Protection or Ingress Protection (IP) marking “rates the degree of protection provided against intrusion, dust, accidental contact, and water by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures.” (Source: Wikipedia)

An IP66-rated camera can provide complete protection against dust and prevent powerful water jets like heavy rain or snow, and is therefore built to last in common outdoor environments.

Will the system wake up fast enough to detect and capture motion?

Most homeowners want a security camera that actually catches people before they’ve entered the house, or even better when they are at the property perimeter. Yet all security cameras have some delay versus real time, and may even fail to “wake up” in time to detect and record activity. You should chose a camera with as little lag time as possible.

Based on the electronic design choice of our circuits and chips, Deep Sentinel cameras ‘wake up’ with minimum lag of less than 10 seconds before beginning to capture and record images.

Do most cameras have alarms built into them?

Most cameras have sound built into them, with either the camera receiving sound via a microphone, emitting sound via a speaker, or both. Cameras that both receive and emit sound effectively double as intercoms.

While many vendors claim that their cameras have an alarm, these may not emit sound at a volume that would deter intruders. Deep Sentinel’s system has a siren in its base station as well as an alarm feature that will broadcast from a two-way audio system. We have a 46mm speaker for our camera alarm, which makes it as loud as our siren hub.

If I have great WiFi quality, can I put a camera on my fence instead of my home? Wireless gives you the installation freedom to do as you wish; nonetheless, we recommend that the system be installed on your house, with 100m line of sight, in order to protect your perimeter.